Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 2:50 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 2:50 p.m.

When Vanguard senior wide receiver Cameron Livingston took his official visit to Weber State, not even 16 inches of snow got in the way of his dream.

“The snow didn't bother me,” said Livingston, who signed with the Utah-based NCAA Division I FCS school on Wednesday at VHS. “It's like a dream come to true. I've got a full ride and I am very satisfied.

“They really take care of you (at WSU) and it is a family atmosphere.”

Members of WSU's coaching staff visited Vanguard and saw Livingston in person. Two days later, they offered him.

He'll join former Trinity Catholic defensive standout Marquel Holmes at the Ogden, UT-based school, which is located about 15 minutes from Salt Lake City.

“I talked to (Holmes) and he said he loved it there,” Livingston said.

Livingston (6-2, 186), a member of the National Honors Society, plans to major in pharmacy at WSU.

In high school he played receiver and defensive back, but will most likely focus on the offensive side of the ball in college.

He credited VHS receivers coach Steve Rhem as being a big part of his development.

“He really taught me the small details,” said Livingston, who runs a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash.

PANITZKE SIGNS WITH LINDENWOOD: North Marion senior offensive lineman Zach Panitzke felt Lindenwood (Mo.) University had exactly what he was looking for.

“I liked the location and it's the best of both worlds,” said Panitzke, who started 35 games over his three varsity seasons for the Colts. “There's a part that's country like we have here at North Marion, and then you go 10 minutes away and you're in St. Louis.

“I loved the coaches and really got along with the offensive line coach.”

Panitzke (6-2, 265), who will earn his associates degree from the College of Central Florida by the time he graduates high school, also received interest from Mercer, Navy, Stetson and Cornell, while also gaining preferred walk-on offers from Troy, Florida International and Florida Atlantic.

He'll play either guard or center at Lindenwood and also could see time as a long snapper, the spot Stetson

focused on him at.

Panitzke, who started at right tackle last season for the Colts, is ready for the next chapter in his life as a student-athlete.

“I'm glad (the recruiting process) is over and I've got my place and I can focus on playing football and earning my degree,” said Panitzke, who plans to pursue a masters degree in human performance.

Panitzke brings power (335-pound bench press, 450-pound squat) and quickness (5.3 in the 40) to a team that qualified for the Mineral Bowl last season.

SHANNON STANDS OUT: When Belleview High School's Dalton Shannon first drew interest from West Virginia State, the school he signed with on Wednesday, he quickly learned what his future college home liked most about him as a football player.

“They liked how aggressive I was when I played,” said Shannon, who started 32 games over a BHS career that began when he was called up to start at center as a freshman.

Shannon (6-2, 285) bench presses 335 pounds, squats 465, runs the 40 in 5.5 and has been a dominant force on the interior line for the Rattlers no matter what adversity he faced.

As a senior, he broke his hand against North Marion and didn't miss a game. He also fought through a separated shoulder, which caused him to miss just one game.

Despite those obstacles, Shannon managed to lead BHS in knockdown blocks and blocking percentage for the past two seasons.

Also a two-year starter on the BHS baseball team, Shannon liked what new WVSU head coach Jon Anderson and his staff had to say about the program at WVSU.

“They've got a lot of new kids coming in and the coaching staff really made it feel like home more than the other places that I was looking at,” said Shannon, who carries a 4.0 grade-point average and wants to go to law school.

“I really liked what the coaches had to say and I want to be part of turning their program around.”

Shannon chose the Yellow Jackets over the likes of Carson-Newman (Tenn.), Stetson, Lenoir-Rhyne and Mercyhurst (Pa.).

PENIX SIGNS WITH BECKER: West Port senior Nathan Penix proved the old adage that you never know who is watching while you're on the practice field.

Penix, who had 31 career starts at outside linebacker for the Wolf Pack, inked a deal with Becker (Mass.) College, an NCAA Division III school, on Wednesday.

“(Becker assistant coach Bob) Lindsey saw me at a seven-on-seven over the summer and then (former WPHS defensive coordinator Rick) Kravitz talked to me about the school,” Penix said. “I found out they run the same defense that we run at West Port (a 4-3) and it will allow me to get out in coverage, which is what I like to do.”

Kravitz, who previously served as a defensive coordinator at multiple NCAA Division I schools, talked to Lindsey, his nephew, about Penix's talents and the rest was history.

Penix (6-1, 175) will visit Becker in mid-February and is excited about the chance to continue his career.

“I'm really going to enjoy the opportunity to play football at the next level,” said Penix, who runs a 4.65 in the 40.

He credited West Port coach Ryan Hearn with being a driving force in his overall development as a person and thanked former WPHS and Bethune-Cookman football standout Chris Bennett, now a coach with the Wolf Pack, as being the one who taught him the most about being a linebacker.

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